"Willys" Jeep, Questions

Just a quick update...

I've been re-shingling my roof for the past week (8 days) with the help of a friend...still have a long way to go.

However, the Jeep is a Willy's 1956 Overland. Not the original paint, but, the body is good (virtually no rust). Original paint appears to be yellow (based on the interior of the glove box), for anyone interested.

The seller wants $4,000, may let it go for $3,500 to our community service club (Lions) to restore...don't have pictures, but:

Assuming (as the seller says) the original F-Head is still strong, drive train is good:

1) Needs paint, upholstery and possible new tires (even though tread is still good on the tires on the vehicle, oxidation is taking its toll)

2) Will need some original stuff (shifter nobs, wiper motors) etc to get back to the original show room look.

What range could this be worth to a collector if fully restored?

Since it probably does have the 5.38 gearing, could an overdrive or other enhancement be made to make it more "freeway" friendly?

Love to buy it myself...but, with the re-roofing, cash is too tight for me to make a bid...shame.

 

$3500 seams a little steap. I got a 67 with a great body and the v6, all original for $1200. Sound like about the condition of that one.

 

Sounds pretty high to me too, unless it's really, really cherry, which is not how you described it. Man thinks he has a priceless collectible classic.

 

At $3500, I don't think there's a lot of room for appreciation, even if it's restored.

I recall prices for Jeep in the PNW ... even the entire west coast ... are a lot higher than in the rest of the nation. I would expect most Jeeps on the west coast to be relatively rust free. Still, that's pretty high for a CJ that has cosmetic problems, is the 2nd year of production, and would be hugely impractical for most people.

These things sell more like old pickups than '60s muscle cars.

 

Hi fellow Oregonian! (Well.. I'm an ex-Oregonian as of a week ago!)

I paid 3k for my 64 CJ5, and it had rust holes about the size of quarters in the floor. Trouble in Oregon is not finding Jeeps, but finding ones that are reasonably original (NO V8 JEEPS!), and not rotted out! (long story short, turns out even though mine LOOKED original, it wasn't "period correct" internally. collector may care; I don't) How's the soft top? Mine is brand new and I still park it under cover in Oregon because of the rainy season. (Well I spoil my jeep..)

Paint is relatively easy (hey I could do it...) IMHO unless your looking for showroom, if you do it yourself. If your going single color, the underlying prep is where 99% of the work is. Even if someone else just shot the paint, you could save a bundle doing your own prep. Its not very many SQ FT, and mostly big flat surfaces, + no roof. If your going for a collector car of course, everything changes...

Oregonians drive slow on the freeways anyway (Aren't they always constructing on I-5 anyway?). An OD will help, and so will slightly taller tires. Course if its gotta be period correct.... learn to love the slow lane and/or avoid freeways. You save $ by avoiding speeding tickets!

I'm no collector, though someone else ECJ5 may be; and I'd never want to sell my Jeep, not even for 10k. Where would I find another will my name welded into the floor board.? (where the once holes were).. R) Keep your eyeball open for one on the east side of the Cascades. My CJ was an "all original" transplant from a little old man in LaPine. Check out Craigslist, they come up every so often.

IMHO, and has others have said being all "together" and not thrashed over here is worth quite a bit. From what I know, factory options also mean something to collectors. If your serious about a collector jeep, make sure the frame VIN matches the body, and the motor casting numbers are period correct. (see ECJ5 tech library)

Don't let me burst your bubble, but I haven't seen anyone (not that I've looked hard..) turn huge profits restoring Jeeps. From what I can tell the real $ are in the military versions.

And obviously, sneak over and snap some pictures, post them, and people will give you more accurate $ answers!